For years, Channel 4 lagged behind its competitors when it came to streaming, but that picture is now starting to change. Over the past year in particular, the broadcaster has built real momentum, with several programmes achieving major success online.
Shows such as A Woman of Substance and Married At First Sight Australia have been key drivers, pulling large audiences onto streaming platforms. At the same time, events like the Africa Cup of Nations and expanded distribution via YouTube have helped Channel 4 reach younger viewers. One notable absence from the early-2026 streaming charts, however, was coverage of the Paralympics.
The start of 2026 marked Channel 4’s strongest first quarter on record for streaming. Between January and March, the broadcaster delivered more than 20 billion streaming minutes, according to BARB — a 22% increase compared with the same period last year, putting it ahead of other commercial broadcasters.
Its performance among younger audiences also improved significantly. The share of commercial impacts among 16–34-year-olds rose by 18%, with this group choosing to watch the majority of their Channel 4 content via streaming. On average, 56% of their viewing was streamed, rising to 61% in March — the highest level among UK commercial broadcasters.
A number of programmes stood out for their streaming success. A Woman of Substance became the biggest new drama launch on linear television since 2019 and the strongest streaming debut since It’s a Sin, averaging 1.6 million streaming viewers per episode. Reality format Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing also performed strongly, attracting more than two million views for its first episode.
Married At First Sight Australia proved a standout hit, generating over one billion minutes of viewing. Factual drama Dirty Business delivered the best streaming performance in its genre since 2021, with 232 million minutes watched. Meanwhile, Secret Genius drew 2.1 million viewers for its opening episode and accumulated 167 million streaming minutes.
Returning series also saw significant gains. Patience increased its streaming minutes by 69% year on year, while The Great Pottery Throw Down rose by 29% to 677 million minutes and achieved its highest-ever linear share for its ninth series. In the peak-time schedule, What Not To Eat became the most-watched new 8pm show since 2021.
Younger viewers were particularly drawn to certain titles. Coverage of the Africa Cup of Nations generated 42 million streaming minutes among 16–34s, while The Great Pottery Throw Down nearly doubled its streaming minutes within this age group to 103 million.
Channel 4 has also benefited from a broader distribution strategy. As the first major UK broadcaster to embrace platforms beyond its own app, it has expanded its reach through YouTube. In the first quarter of 2026, full-episode views on the platform rose by 11%, driven largely by true-crime series such as 24 Hours in Police Custody and Social Media Monsters.